UPDATE 1-Russia: still chance for negotiated solution to Syria conflict

December 29, 2012|Reuters

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Russia said on Saturday that anegotiated solution to the conflict in Syria is still possiblebut the international mediator struggling to end 21 months ofbloodshed warned of "hell" unless a deal is struck.

Sergei Lavrov and Lakhdar Brahimi announced no major newinitiatives after talks in Moscow and their remarks underscoredthe obstacles the U.N.-Arab League envoy faces in bringing abouta solution.

"If the only alternative is hell or a political process,then all of us have to work continuously toward the politicalprocess," said Brahimi, adding it was still possible to reach "asolution that would work" but that the barriers were daunting.

"The chance for a political settlement remains and it is ourobligation to make maximal use of that chance," Lavrov toldreporters in a joint appearance after his talks with Brahimi,who met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier in the week.

Lavrov, whose country has blocked Western and Arab effortsin the U.N. Security Council to put pressure on Assad, repeatedthat Assad's exit must not be a precondition for a politicalprocess, saying such demands were "wrong" and counterproductive.

He said the refusal of the Syrian opposition NationalCoalition to talk to the Syrian leadership was a "dead-endposition", and criticised the coalition leader for rebuffing aninvitation for talks with Russia.